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Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

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7.2<br />

TABLE 7.1.1 Electric Energy <strong>Generated</strong> in<br />

Nuclear Power Growth Scenarios<br />

Case GWe-Yr<br />

1 200<br />

2 1,300<br />

3 6,400<br />

4 8,700<br />

5 12,100<br />

period from 1980 to 2075. In addition, the radioactivity inventory in the final reposi-<br />

tories is followed over a million-year period. This provides an accurate representation <strong>of</strong><br />

the radioactivity source term for hazard analysis. However, because <strong>of</strong> the very large<br />

uncertainties associated with long-term predictions <strong>of</strong> events that might result in some<br />

future radiological hazard, it is not considered useful to attempt predictions <strong>of</strong> radiologi-<br />

cal consequences for periods beyond about 10,000 years.<br />

The objective <strong>of</strong> the system simulation was to identify the cumulative impacts <strong>of</strong> imple-<br />

menting the proposed program and to compare the range <strong>of</strong> impacts that would result from<br />

implementation <strong>of</strong> the proposed program, with those that could result from implementation <strong>of</strong><br />

the alternative program or the no-action alternative. The three program alternatives were<br />

described in Section 3.1 and can be summarized as follows.<br />

* Proposed Program. The research and development program for waste management will<br />

emphasize use <strong>of</strong> mined repositories in geologic formations capable <strong>of</strong> accepting<br />

radioactive wastes from either the once-through or reprocessing cycles. This<br />

program will be carried forward to identify specific locations for the construc-<br />

tion <strong>of</strong> mined repositories.<br />

* Alternative Program. The research and development program would emphasize the<br />

parallel development <strong>of</strong> several disposal technologies. This action implies an R&D<br />

program to bring the knowledge regarding two or three disposal concepts and their<br />

development status to an approximately equal level. At some later point, a pre-<br />

ferred technology would be selected for construction <strong>of</strong> facilities for radiologi-<br />

cal waste disposal.<br />

* No-Action Alternative. This alternative would eliminate or significantly reduce<br />

the Department <strong>of</strong> Energy's research and development programs for radioactive waste<br />

disposal. Under this alternative, existing spent fuel would be left indefinitely<br />

where it is currently stored and any additional spent fuel discharged from future<br />

operation <strong>of</strong> commercial nuclear power plants would likewise be stored indefinitely<br />

in water basin facilities either at the reactors or at independent sites.<br />

The proposed program represents adoption <strong>of</strong> the interim planning strategy referred to<br />

in the President's statement <strong>of</strong> February 12, 1980, announcing a comprehensive radioactive<br />

waste management program for this nation. The President stated in part, "I am adopting an<br />

interim planning strategy focused on the use <strong>of</strong> mined geologic repositories capable <strong>of</strong><br />

accepting both waste from reprocessing and unreprocessed commercial spent fuel." Final

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